The KlanFirst published in 1978, The Klan is still considered the best book to appear on the grandfather of all extremist hate groups. Now, in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing and other domestic terrorist activities that are the legacy of Klan violence, it is more timely than ever. Patsy Sims, an award-winning journalist, drove more than 1,200 miles over the back roads of the South to begin this book. During two years of research and writing she talked, rallied, and kept in almost constant telephone contact with Klan leaders and rank-and-file members. The result was more than 150 hours of taped interviews revealing the personal experiences of the Klanspeople and their victims. These she wove together with history and contemporary news events for a riveting look inside the organization at the peak of its power. In this highly evocative narrative, Sims allows readers to experience Klan rallies and cross burnings, relive the terror of surviving victims, visit Klan homes and meeting halls, sit through an interview conducted at gunpoint, and meet the people behind the hoods. By showing what the leaders and members of the Invisible Empire are like both on and off the rally grounds, and by letting them speak for themselves, Sims provides invaluable insight into the mentality that gives rise to extremist hate groups and paramilitary organizations. |
Contents
Entering the Invisible Empire | 1 |
Dale Reusch Tossing His Hood into the Ring | 8 |
Signs of the Times | 29 |
Bob Jones The Tattooed Dragon | 31 |
At the Filling Station | 48 |
Robert Scoggin Inside the Klavern | 50 |
Ed Dawson A Few Regrets | 68 |
The Day the Klan Returned to Pulaski | 73 |
David Duke The Image Maker | 152 |
Bogalusa A Battleground Revisited | 197 |
The Agent | 205 |
The White Knights of Mississippi | 207 |
Tommy Tarrants A Repentant Rebel | 232 |
James Venable The Wizard of Stone Mountain | 247 |
Calvin Craig Once a Klansman | 258 |
Maryland The Struggles Within | 266 |
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Common terms and phrases
accused Alabama arrested asked Atlanta attorney Baxley Bill Birmingham Bogalusa bombing Bowers burned called Chaney charges chuckled church civil rights workers court Craig cross cross burnings crowd David Duke Duke's federal feel former Georgia goin gonna Grand Dragon head Hooded HUAC hundred Imperial Wizard interview Invisible Empire J.B. Stoner James James Earl Ray Jews jist John Howard joined the Klan Jones killed Klan leaders Klan's Klansmen Klanspeople klavern Klux Klan Ku Klux Klan LaRicci laughed looked Louisiana Maryland membership Miller Minton Mississippi Nathan Bedford Forrest never nigger NSRP organization police political Prins prison race racial rally Reusch right-wing robe Robert Shelton Sam Bowers Scoggin sixties somethin South Carolina Stoner talk Tarrants there's things thousand tion told United Klans Venable violence White Knights White power woman Yeah